WfíIMBREL,
Slmt [lie wualVal Whimbrel i ever met with. It was i ill possible to farm an opinion as to (lie llnsiha till
Hie bird was in Hie boat, even alter a close inspection with Ibe glasses while it W alongside of Hie drain at a
distant R only twenty-Bve or thirty yards. The beak was remarkably short, and exhibited hut the slightest
signs of Ibe run e. No other Whimbrel, or even a Wader larger than the Dolterel or Dunlin, were seen all
day." Two gunners, well acquainted w itli every member of the Wader family frequenting the Sussex mudflats,
staled that during a severe winter some twenty years ago they noticed a couple of strangers iu the flock of
Curlew which habitually resort to this district; and the birds happening to pass within range, the pair were
obtoincd. According to their description, these two birds belonged to the small race or variety of the
Whimbrel*. The very accurate manner in which every pcciilinrity of this small form was described was
sufficient to satisfy any one who had pro! iously met with them. Whether these \>\ gmies are simply the young
(which is my own conclusion) or a smaller form of the Whinibrel, I must leave to scientific naturalists to
decide.
After the manner of nil the family, the Whimbrel is frequently heard at night, especially in stormy
weather. The !• flowing lines an- extracted from my notes of IST.t, while shooting on Hreydon : —
"August IS, Wind south, weather dull. Dining the hitter part of the afternoon and evening the sky
had worn a most threatening appearance, and shortly before dark it commenced to rain nnd blow, and a
thunderstorm of great severity passed over the town (Yarmouth). During the whole of the temped immense
numbers of Waders were attracted by the lights, nnd remained for several hours (lying over the houses. The
cries of Whimbrel, Curlew, Godwits, Plovers, Knots, Redshanks, and several other birds could plainly
lie distinguished. It was afterwards mentioned in some of the sporting papers that large flocks of Waders
bad been heard calling over London during the storm of the same date."
Along the west coast of Itoss-shire and also in the Hebrides the note of this species was recognized
repeatedly during spring, even if the birds themselves escaped notice. In Sutherland and Caithness they
appear at the same season, though I have remarked but few in nntumn. On the east coast I met with small
parties along the shores of the Firth of Forth, the sands at Aberlady and the rocks between Canty Hay and
Dunbar being favourite feeding-grounds.
1 can give but little information derived from my own experience concerning the breeding of the Whimbrel
iu the British Islands. Though searching with the greatest care nad patience over miles of moorland in the
north of Caithness, where I learned, on good authority, that these birds were In the habit of nesting, there was
not a single specimen to be observed at the time of my visit in June 1809, • Particular attention was given
to the country in the vicinity of Hiina and Duncniisby Head ; I was, however, at length reluctantly forced
to come to the conclusion that the birds must have entirely deserted their former quarters.
But two or three pairs of Whimbrel which might reasonably he judged to be cngagi-d in nesting-operations
were fallen in with during the two seasons [1888 and 1869) in which I devoted particular attention to
examining the reputed haunts of these birds. While off the west coast of Ross-shire early in June Wis, in a
small fishiiig-crafi during a fresh breeze of wind, a pair or Whimbrols flew up from one of the rocky islets
lying outside Loeh Fwe, and continued for some time hovering over the boat, calling loudly and evidcnlly
greatly distressed by their lonely abode luing threatened with a visit. These noisy birds were shortly joined
by two or throe others which came from some of the adjacent islands. Though several attempts were made,
the surf was breaking so heavily round the rooks that there was not the slightest chance or effecting a landing.
There did not appear above a quarter or at most half an acre.of coarse heather and grass on the summit of
this wild and rugged mass of red rock, that rose but twenty or thirty fi-ot at the highest point above the
waves, which were constantly breaking around with terrific force. On the following day the attempt to search
the spot was renewed, though unfortunately without success. The same birds were again SITU ; and from
• Th.» t.irds U-rmnt - CwW -help. " If 0>« mm.
WHIMBREL, 8
their actions I was convinced there could bo little doubt they were nesting. A continuation of stormy
weather, which sot in with still greater fury, put an end to all hopes of exploring this terribly exposed coast
before I left the dislrict.
To give an accurate description of the familiar cry of the Whimbrel is well nigh impossible. The
note, however, is one of tbo easiest to imitate, and the birds in most instances readily respond and frequent ly
approach without hesitation.
The food of this species is probably much the same as that oí the Curlew. As a rule, however, the
localities it frequents are more exposed to the influence of salt water than fresh, marine worms and insects
doubtless forming their chief means of sustennnee.